Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-07-15
THE HAND OF DESTINY.

The little brook rushed headlong
over it's stony bed, the tall trees, with
their garlands of moss and wild grape
vines, bent lovingly over the noisy wa
ters, while the auuacious zephyr sau-
city brushed the face OF the girl who
lay upon the sloping green bank. She
was so still that daring bird came
curiously near, and an adventure
| some squirrel crept up slowly, his
bright eyes glanced from side to side,
seeming to regard with wonder the fig
ure clad in the plain white gown.
Suddenly two little feet protruded
from the full skirt, and Wild decided
Jump, and a shake of the dark curly
locks. Hazel THAR rose, and swinging
her broad garden hat by its string
started through the woods, when a.
shrill whistle sounded. With g. mis-
chievous smile, the girl hastily threw
her hat on the grass, and Selling a low
hanging grape vine, swung herself by it
on to a large branch, where she seat
cd herself, quite hidden by the clinging
moss and thick leaves.
In a moment a boy with crop OF
yellow hair, honest blue eyes and a.
smiling mouth, and wearing q straw
hat carelessly on the back of his head,
came into sight. looking on either side
as he whistled.
"Hazel! Hazel!'' he called, adding in
an undertone, "Where is the girl?
Gone off to walk, 1 believe, when Pm
-Hullo!' as a smothered laugh be-
trayed her. "Now say, Hazel, that
too bad; joking, when you're going
away so soon. Come down and let's
have one jolly talk"
Il was just thinking how lonely
should be, and how should miss you,
and these lovely woods, and the
brook, and-every thing" answered
the girl, as she came swinging down
on the 1.-the vine, dropping on the
grass beside her companion. North
ern girls will be shocked at my
romps, and no one will be as good
company as my old Bob, bless you,"
she continued, embracing the boy with
the untrammelel freedom OF child.
hood, for though nearly Is she had
never been taught conventionalities
OF had her impulses restrained.
A slight color filled Rob Stevens
brown cheeks and he unclasped the
arms thrown round his neck and rails
ed the curly head on his shoulder and
said seriously: "Hazel, dear, that is
well, l wanted to say something to
you, that very thing. = We've been
friends long time, haven't we?" "Of
course and Hazel looked at him
wonderingly. "Ard, well-bother it
say,you won't forget me, will you, Ha-
eel, and you know what you promised
me down by the old magnolia?' II
remember" she answered, Il said I'd
never care for any one as much as you
and I'd wait until you were old
enough, and then we'd''- "All right,
never mind saying it, if you'll remem-
Der: and keep your promise; and say,
Hazel, you know girls don't usually
hug tho fellows, so be careful. P'raps
you'd better not any more" The
dark eyes opened wide and the sensi-
tive mouth quivered. mo, Bob,
won't; only I thought as long as it
was only you it was no harm. I'll try
and remember"
They sat there by the cool stream
until a clear bell warned them that
the evening meal was being prepared
in the big house, which could just be
seen through the trees, and away they
scanapered, band in hand, up the long,
green slope.
Judge THAR was wealthy planter,
but also an educated gentleman, and
he realized the Importance OF sending
his motherless daughter away to bet
ter schools than those in the s'Sunny
South" The poor man tried to per-
form all the duties of mother and
father, but he was sadly deficient
sometimes, and felt himself so lately
as he saw his "baby" growing into a
tall girl. He noticed her increasing
| familiarity with Bob Stevens the son
Of his nearest neighbor, and, indeed,
the only white child for some miles
around, and not daring TO put new
ideas into her mind, deemed it advls.
| able to place her in more experienced
| hands. So early the following Mon.
day q Northern aunt took Hazel to
| her home, and three weeks from the
day on which she bade Bob an affec-
tionate farewell saw her fairly estab.
| lisbed in q fashiona Bile school.
For g while, to Hazers wondering
eyes, everything seemed like a fairy
tale, and being very susceptible, she
/ conceived VIOLENT attachments on all
sides; but her busy brain soon went
to work, and she began to distinguish
between the false and true, and got
over her first trial with the shallow
mess OF Aaman nature with only q
slight heartache. .5. ..s 4.
| Rob wrote every week, telling her Of
| the things that interested her at
home, and at FIRST she answered in her
old effectioDate way, until the girls
leased her about her devoted admirer.
Then Rob noticed that her letters
sounded forced, though still friendly,
and missing the sisterly conf dence, be
wondered, then 1onged to see her, and
finally went north, IN due time pre-
sented his card at the door of the
| boarding school. As ne stood in the
long reception room, waiting for his
old play to come, ard wondering
! # she would throw her arms about
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